i tried fxpansion's guru drum sequencer earlier, definitly alot better then battery for drums or for that matter any other program ive tried.

its like 16 step programming optimised so that you have a number of sequences running at once, all of them by default running at a tempo that is a multiple of the core pattern and pretty much any function you would need to manipulate patterns (switch layers of patterns/alter them) is mapped across a midi keyboard. its really fun for improvising.

Synths: this one is hard.....Tassman 4, CS80V, Minimoog V, Ultra Analog, Virsyn Tera, a new one coming out from Native Instruments that I can't talk about yet, Kontakt, PPG V, Reactor.
I have lots more I like but those are the first ones I go for.

My favorite programs are Tu2 (Tuareg II) and DDclip Pro. DDclip is the easiest multitrack recorder/mixer I've ever seen. The only down side is you have to convert frames per second to BPM for the grid, but other than that it's fabulous. It's much easier than ProTools. Tu2 is a .WAV sequencer/remixer/drum machine/synthesizer program. You can do a lot with it. I shouldn't tell you this, but there are cracks for both of these programs.

For a sequencer I use Jazz. It's not my favorite, but it's the only free one I could find that actually works correctly and has a metrognome and quantization. It's a little bit tricky because it wants to work in GM mode, but it's better than nothing.

Synth: CS-80vSampler: Mach Five (incredibly easy to use, but I basically only use it for songwriting b/c the "universal" sampler doesn't work like it should. Why did I buy those Kurzweil sample CDs?!)
Sequencer: Cubase SX3 (by far the easiest to use IMO)
Underdog: Cakewalk Project 5...the synth/sampler in that thing is FLANTASTIC...DON'T TELL ANYONE THO!
Plug-ins: I use Waves Diamond

synth: FM7, Korg legacy wavestation, lounge lizard (I love those sounds you get by drenching it in wahwah and reverb)
sequencer: live 5
sampler: I prepare my samples in Audacity and fiddle them in Live, I'm not a sample expert
audio fx: the ones in Live, I'm not into fx too much though...
no filters or mastering

I don't really understand what exactly is mastering, is there any tutorial with sound examples like before/after?

I use Logic Pro 7, Ableton Live, BFD, iDrum and Ozone3 for "mastering". I love all those programs. I'm waiting for NI Komplete 4 to be available for Mactel.

square_bubblegum-

Without getting into heavy details, mastering is a series of sound manipulations that make recordings sound like CDs you buy at the store. It's polish, warmth, loudness etc. Most major label releases are mastered at a mastering house whith very specialized and expensive equipment but some software does a great job...especially Waves and I'm fond of Ozone 3.

Dig around the izotope.com website they have a downlaodable PDF on the basics of mastering (and one on dithering). It's very informative. While you're there you can download a demo of Ozone a hear the difference yourself.

burns46824 wrote:I didn't buy Waves Diamond...in fact, the only software I think is worthy of a purchase is software that is based around sampling (b/c you can't illegally download a software sampler successfully).

Software is WAY OVERPRICED!!! I did buy SX3 tho...

I wouldn't be a b***h and steal software if it were cheaper...I think that goes for everyone!

How exactly is software overpriced?!?
maybe you say it's over-priced because you can't afford it and it's easy to steal?
Every hardware synth ever made becomes overpriced if the alternative is just to steal it.
Don't underestimate the time, cost and effort that goes into developing innovative software.
There's plenty of free stuff out there. (this is not a potshot at you burns but just people in general who say they'd buy software if it was cheaper)